I have 4 5 gallon buckets in a 4x8 I'm 3 weeks from harvest and add close to 1 1/2 gallons every day I start them in 3 gallon and move to 5

spase said:

I'm thinking of going with a deep water culture. I've got a 3x4x6.5 for room. My first question is what size containers I should use? The 3.5 gallon gives me more space to grow upwards, but are the smaller containers going to allow the plants to get a big as the space? I'm going for 4 plants in the space.

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A larger bucket has more room for roots and there's also the fact that the larger bucket will be far more stable than a smaller bucket in terms of in terms of pH and EC changes. A larger bucket will also mean that you don't have to top off as often.

A three gallon bucket ≠ 3 gallons of nutes. If roots are ½ gallon and if the water level is ½" below the bottom of the net pot, you've only got ~ 2 gallons of nutrients. A cannabis plant in flower will take up a gallon per day so you're going to have to refill the bucket every day and you will tend to get more rapid pH and EC changes. If you go to a 5 gallon bucket, that two gallons more of nutes means that you've got double the nutrient solution that you have in a 3 gallon bucket. That's a huge win.

Between 3 and 5 gallon buckets, go with a 5, hands down. You will make your life easier if you go to a 7 or 8 gallon size.

I have no affiliation with these folks but, if I was buying a new hydro system, I'd buy from them (I did place an order for a 2 bucket 13 gallon system but I had to cancel the order, unfortunately).

Cheaper just to build your own 3 gallon or 5 gallon that's just a bucket with an air stone in it wrap it with some silver insulation to keep the light out and the water cool

Thank you for the responses. I'll probably make my own. I can hopefully find short wide containers to get a good 4 plus gallons of nutes and keep some height.

spase said:

Thank you for the responses. I'll probably make my own. I can hopefully find short wide containers to get a good 4 plus gallons of nutes and keep some height.

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A lot of growers DIY with Rubbermaid totes.
Best of luck with your project!

I like to start mine in 3 gallon then move to 5 gallon